January 2010 Archives

The Solar Roller rolled up at our host Bob's house shortly before dusk. We had arrived at this verdant yet extremely remote corner of the Bungoma North district in north west Kenya feeling a little weary. But the warm welcome by Bob and his family and neighbours helped to quickly dissolve away the last seven hours of bumpy dirt roads.

Bob is a true solar advocate. A 150W panel sits proudly on his roof and has done for the last six years. Bob makes a living for himself and supports his extended family by growing maize and sunflowers for oil.

Bob's home, with 150W worth of solar pv on the roof.

Bob's neighbour - a woman named Consulate - speaking little English and (unsurprisingly) not understanding my four words of Swahili, invited me to visit her home and meet her family. In mutual silence, punctuated with laughter and gestures, Consulate led me through several fields in the half light. After scrambling through bushes we finally reached two rounded mud huts with thatched roofs, with a smoking fire outside. I was warmly and proudly invited inside. Consulate hastened to open the small shutter windows to let in what little light remained outside. I was offered the one and only chair while the family sat next to me on the floor. The darkness was piercing. My eyes strained to see my hosts' smiling faces and get a grasp of the layout of their home, which consisted of a main room and an adjoining bedroom. Consulate has seven children and three grandchildren, most of whom live here.

This humbling encounter in absolute darkness was a poignant reminder of why so many millions of similar homes across Africa rely on tin lamps or, if they're lucky, a kerosene lamp, to be able to see anything at all. Consulate's home had neither.

The smokey tin lamp used so widely in homes across Africa. These very basic lamps run off kerosene and have dangerous exposed flames.

As I wandered back to Bob's house I was met with a spectacular sight. Hundreds of fireflies were glowing brightly in the endlessly dark grass. Just as these tiny insects can create such brilliant light in their fight for survival, I felt more certain than ever (having sat in total darkness for the last hour) that a simple solar lamp could help thousands of rural Kenyans improve their day to day lives. A small step, with the potential for a big impact in improving quality of life and livelihoods.

It was a long journey but it was worth every pothole-riddled, bumpy moment. I've just returned to Nairobi having travelled up to North Bungoma to meet our Sunny Money franchisees and visit schools. This is my first visit to SolarAid's programmes. And what a trip.

Our mode of transport was SolarAid's Solar Roller. If this vehicle had a personality (and it almost does) it would be always smiling and forever jubilant. You can't help but feel optimistic when you see this bright yellow van with its hopeful messages 'Here comes the Sun' and 'Solar power to the people'

The Solar Roller has 120W worth of solar panels on its roof. This is literally solar on the move. But I soon came to realise that this vehicle is much more than that.

As we headed north-west we drove through several flooded areas; the first signs of the heavy rains that have recently ravaged the country. The hardened ground, following months of drought, simply couldn't take the volume of rainfall. Over 100 people have died in the last few weeks as a result of flooding. The injustice of one extreme being followed so swiftly by another is a hard one to take in. Whilst in Nairobi, I got talking to a local guy who'd heard about the heavy snow in the UK and wanted to tell me about it. He also told me of his concerns for Kenya's weather patterns. "The weather is crazy. There is either not enough rain or too much. It's the result of global warming but I'm not sure what we can do about it".

A view from the Solar Roller of flooding south of Nakuru, Kenya.

Although solar is not the only answer it became apparent to me early on in our trip that many Kenyan's are fascinated and optimistic about the possibility of harnessing the sun's power. The Solar Roller undoubtedly attracted a lot of attention. Children waved, people smiled when they read the captions on the side and caught a glimpse of the solar panels on the roof.

Whilst at a petrol station just outside Nairobi, several attendants huddled around to peer in through the windscreen, intrigued by the small panels of our new microsolar product basking in the sun. "Where can we get one of these?!" one of them asked.

To see the interest in these products and their potential demand so early on in the trip filled me with enormous hope and excitement.

More from me soon...
Anna

With the Solar Roller at the ready I hit the road for a meeting and installation at Mbakolo Friends Secondary School in North Bongoma.

Arriving early I meet the Teaching Board and begin the introductory process. It is a huge success. Training begins immediately for staff on how to maintain the equipment in order to increase the installation's longevity.

The Solar Rolar entering Mbakolo Friends Secondary School.

Upon installation I find myself chatting with Physics Teacher, Mr Charles Wekesa. He says he will use the solar installation as a teaching aid, 'It is great to not only teach the theory about a technology but also to show it in action'.

Charles is ambitious and highlights the importance of solar power to Kenya as a whole:

'You cannot imagine what an impact solar will have on the wider community here. Students will tell their parents about it. Parents will come and see the benefits of it. There will soon be people wanting to start a solar business. If SolarAid could assist these people with technical and business training that would be great'.

Physics teacher Mr. Charles Wekesa sitting with a solar battery ready for installation.

With so many Board members and teachers present it is an excellent sign that they are really committed. The trip has been a total success.

To support SolarAid in our mission to bring solar power to schools and hospitals please support us here.